Balaji: 'It's hard to plan for Kohli'

“It's hard to plan. It's like an armyman going to the battlefield…The important thing is what we can control," replied Kolkata Knight Riders's bowling coach L. Balaji when asked about setting plans for Virat Kohli.

Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli, since returning from injury, has scored two fifties in three games.

Can you set a plan for a batsman of Virat Kohli’s calibre?

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) bowling coach L. Balaji has got the best answer. “It's hard to plan. It's like an armyman going to the battlefield…The important thing is what we can control. The very good thing is we got five wickets (in the last match). When you keep doing that, the outcome takes care of its own,” said Balaji on the eve of KKR’s Indian Premier League match against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the Eden Gardens here.

In fact, Balaji put into perspective what the bowlers might expect while facing Kohli or his more explosive colleagues Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers.

In a broader sense, Balaji, a former India seamer, said, “Twenty20 is all about on that day what you do. It doesn't matter what you do. Batting has decided most of the outcomes… We cannot control opposition. We can control many things which we are doing.”

Balaji also backed the KKR bowlers and hoped that they would become better in bowling in the death overs. “We have reached nearly 40 wickets. It's about wickets. Don't go by runs because as a bowler your destination depends on how many wickets you take and not by economy rate. You may bowl couple of maidens but wickets are important. We will improve on couple of areas.

“It's about adaptation and coming good on that day. You slowly adapt yourself and take it to the next phase, which is Powerplay,” said Balaji.